Interior-player piano.



M. CLARK.

INTERIOR PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1909.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

5 SHEETS-S HEET 1 Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

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M. CLARK.

INTERIOR PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION rum: APR.12, 1909.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

5 SHEETS-BHEET 3.

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5 SHEBTS-S M. CLARK.

INTERIOR PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1909.

1,011,920. Patented De.19,1911.

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J W NM x m /J W m COLUMBIA PLANOGIAPH C0. WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVILLE CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INTERIOR-PLAYER PIANO.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVILLE CLARK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Interior-Player Pianos, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to pro vide an improved construction of interior player piano, in which, provision being made for playing two parts of music,as a melody and accompaniment,separate pneumatic actions are provided for independently playing such different parts, one of said actions being located above the manual and the other below the same to avoid crowding or requiring extension of the piano case at either part.

It consists in the features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings :F igure 1 is a fore-andaft vertical section of an instrument equipped with this invention. Fig. 2 is a partly sectional plan view of the top of the upper pneumatic action, section being made at the line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail section at the line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail section at the line 4-4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail section at the line 55 on Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the tracker devices and upper action. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the exhaust chamber M and motor pneumatic L shown in outline in Fig. 6, section being made at the line 77 on Fig. 10. Fig. 8 is an edge elevation of the tracker board. F ig. 9 is a detail elevation of certain valve operating connections. Fig. 10 is a section at the line 1010 on Figs. 6 and 7.

In the drawings, A represents the foundation board of an upright piano, above which are mounted the manual keys, B, in the usual manner. Below the foundation board, A, and suitably supported thereby, there is mounted a principal pneumatic action, comprising the customary motor pneumatics C and primary pneumatics which need no further description. From the motor pneumatics pitman rods, D, extend up through the foundation board and are connected at their upper ends by means of heads or buttons, d, thereon with the under side of the keys, which are each provided with a hook Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 12, 1909.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Serial N 0. 489,474. I

or finger, 1), forward of their fulcrums for engaging the button or head, (Z, of the pitman. The motor pneumatics are mounted, as illustrated, with their moving walls above their fixed walls so that they collapse downward for actuating the keys respectively. Above the portion of the manual keys which extends rearward of their fulcrums, there is mounted ,a supplemental action, E. The motor pneumatics of this action are most conveniently mounted in vertical position, as shown, their moving walls being pivoted at the lower end and vibrating at the upper ends, which are connected by horizontal pitmen, F, with the upstanding arms, G of bellcrank levers, Gr, fulcrumed at their angle at the lower end of the action frame and having rearwardly extending short arms, 9, engaging under the off-set upper ends of hooks, 6 with which the keys respectively are provided at their rear ends, so that the collapse of the motor pneumatics lifts the keys at the rear ends, the connection of the keys in both cases being the same as when struck by the finger of an operator in manual playing.

The tracker device for use with the two actions described is illustrated in the form in which it is fully shown and claimed in my application Serial No. 488,625, filed April 8, 1909, and the same will not be further described in detail here, but only sufiiciently to show the relation of its parts to the two pneumatic actions when the latter are separated as shown, one above and the other below the manual. The tracker device comprises the tracker board, H, which has a row of tracker mouths, of which a middle group, H is appropriated to playing an accompaniment or principal part, and a group or groups, H part at each end, appropriated to playing a melody or secondary part, and a third group or groups, H located in two parts intermediate the middle unitary group, H and the extreme parted group or groups, H said third group being designed for double connections so that they may be appropriated either for playing in conjunction with the middle group or in conjunction with the end groups. From the tracker board, flexible tubes, 7L lead from the group of ducts, H to the principal action, said tubes being parted into two masses and led down past the manual at the opposite ends thereof for connection With. the primary pneumatic chamber of the principal action,

as shown at h, where a single one of the tubes, 72. is represented in Fig. 1. From the group of ducts, H flexible tubes 11?, lead directly to the primary pneumatics of the supplemental action, as shown at h in Fig. 1. From the group of ducts, H flexible tubes, h, extend to a slide, J, mounted upon the supplemental action case, and having its ducts to which the tubes are connected adapted for registration with corresponding ports for connection with primary pneumatics of the supplemental action, the slide being adapted to be moved at its seat for cutting ofi the connection of its ducts with said primaries operating as a valve for that purpose. The ducts, j, in the slide, J, have lateral branches, y' to which there are connected flexible tubes, 72 which lead to a slide, K, mounted upon the principal action case, having ducts for registration with ports in the latter leading to proper primaries thereof and adapted to be moved for cutting off such communication. By reason of the separation of the group, H in two parts, two slides, K, are necessary, but they are connected together for simultaneous movement by a rod, K and both connected by an extension arm, K with a motor pneumatic, L, whose moving member is connected by an arm, L with said slide. This motor pneumatic is mounted upon a small exhaust chamber, M, having any convenient connection, as by the tube, 721, with the exhaust chamber M Vithin this small exhaust chamber there are mounted two primary pneumatics, P, P having their moving members connected for simultaneous oscillation by a link, P and for controlling the motor pneumatic with a valve, P op erating in the usual manner for such control. Flexible tubes, P, P lead to the primary pneumatics respectively from inlet valves, P and P situated in any convenient position for manipulation by the operator. The primary pneumatic, P, has an exterior air connection by way of the duct, p lead ing out through the edge of the diaphragm, P, on which the primary pneumatics are both mounted within the chamber, M, and the outer end of said duct is controlled by a valve, Q, which is operatively connected with the motor pneumatic, L, for uncovering the port and admitting air to the pri mary pneumatic when the motor pneumatic is collapsed and closing it when it is inflated. This device is identical in construction with one shown in my said application Serial No. 88,025, dated April 8, 1909, for operating a difl erent part, but with the same eiiect-, namely, that upon opening one of the valves, admitting air to one of the primary pneumatics, the motor pneumatic is collapsed and moves the slide, K, in one direction and holds it in the position to which it is thus moved, whether the valve, P, is held open or not,.because the collapse of the motor pneumatic has opened the duct, 22 which supplies the primary pneumatic with air independently of any supply which it may or may not continue to receive through the tube, P. But when the other valve, P is opened and the opposite primary pneumatic, P is inflated, the motor pneumatic, L, being inflated reverses the slide, K, and at the same time closes the duct, 22 so that the conditions remain unchanged until the first valve, P is again opened.

Itis the intention of the construction here shown that the supplemental or melody ac tion shall be operated at a higher tension than the principal or accompaniment action for the purpose of making the melody more prominent than the accompaniment when the instrumentis operated for playing both. And for this purpose the main exhaust air space comprises a high tension chamber, M connnunicating by a trunk pipe, 0, with the supplemental action chamber; and a low tension chamber, M communicating by a short pipe bend, 0 with the principal or accompaniment action chamber located directly above said chamber, M as may be understood from Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, connected with pumpers, N, N, and controlled respectively by high tension controlling bellows, O, and low tension controlling bellows, 0 the construction and operation of which for the same purpose is fully shown in my application Serial No. 488,625, filed April 8, 1909, and need not be described further than to point out the valve, Q which controls the connection of the high tension bellows, O, with the supplemental action, and which, when closed, puts the supplemental action out of service. This valve, Q}, and the slide, J, are necessarily always operated together, and they are both connected for operation with the lever, J fulcrumed in any con venientposition on the tracker board and roll carriage frame and pivotally connected directly with the slide, J, and by a link, J with the upstanding arm on the bell crank lever, J whose horizontal arm is connected by a link, J with the lever arm, Q of the rock shaft, Q whose arm, Q", is connected to the valve,

The link J carries a knob K which is engaged by the extension arm K mounted on the moving all of the motor pneumatic L, so that when the pneumatic moves for opening communication through the slide valve K it also causes the closing of the slide valve J. But the nature of this one-way connection allows the slide K to be closed without opening the slide J.

I claim 1. In an interior player piano, in combi-.

keys and the other below the same; connections from the motor pneumatics of said actions for operating upon the keys; a tracker board and controller-sheet-operating devices located above the manual, the tracker ducts of the tracker board comprising a group for connection with the principal action, a second group for connection with the supplemental action, and a third group for connection with both actions; groups of flexible tubes from the first and second of said groups of ducts respectively to the respective actions; a valve bar on the upper action, and flexible tubes thereto from the third group, said bar having branched ducts from the tube connections, one branch for registration with ducts leading to the corresponding primaries of said upper action, the other branch leading out of the bar; a valve bar on the lower action having ducts for registration with primary ducts thereof; flexible tubes from the branch ducts of the firstmentioned bar to the ducts of the last-mentioned bar, and means for operating both bars for registration and nonregistration of their ducts with the primary ducts of the respective actions.

2. In an interior player piano, in combi nation with the manual keys, a principal pneumatic action and a supplemental pneumatic action, one located above the manual keys and the other below the same; connections from the motor pneumatics of said actions for operating upon the keys; a tracker board and control]er-sheet-operating devices located above the manual, the tracker ducts of the tracker board comprising a group for connection with the principal action, a second group for connection with the su iplemental action, and a third group for connection with both actions; groups of flexible tubes from the first and second of said groups of ducts respectively to the respec tive actions; a valve bar on the upper action, and flexible tubes thereto from the third group, said bar having branched ducts from. said tube connections, one branch for registration with ducts leading to the corresponding primaries of said upper action, the other branch leading out of the bar; a valve bar on the lower action having ducts for registration with primary ducts thereof; flexible tubes from the branch ducts of the first-mentioned bar to the ducts of the last-mentioned bar;

means for operating both bars for registration and non registration of their ducts with the primary ducts of the respective actions; connections between said bar-operating means for cutting off the communication through the bar on the supplemental action when the baron the principal ac tion is moved for eifecting communication, said connections comprising a joint at which there is play permitting the bar on the principal action to be moved for closing when the other bar is also in closed position.

3. In an interior player piano, in combination with the manual keys, a principal pneumatic action and a supplemental pneumatic action, one located above the manual keys and the other below the same; connections from the motor pneumatics of said actions for operating upon the keys; a tracker board and controller-sheet-operating devices located above the manual; tracker ducts of the tracker board comprising a group for connection with the principal action; a second group for connection with the supplemental action, and a third group for connection with both actions; groups of flexible tubes from the first and second of said groups of ducts respectively to the respective actions; a valve bar on the upper action, and flexible tubes thereto from the third group, said bar having branched ducts from the tube connections when branched for registration with ducts leading to the corresponding primaries of said upper action, the other branch leading out of the bar and flexible tubes connected therewith; a bar mounted on the lower action having ducts for registration with primary ducts thereof; flexible tubes from the branched ducts of the first-mentioned bar to the ducts of the last-mentioned bar; mechanical means for operating the bar on the upper action; a pneumatic for operating the bar on the lower action; a primary pneumatic for controlling such motor pneumatic; an air inlet for such primary pneumatic, and a valve for controlling such inlet at will.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this 25th day of March,

MELVILLE CLARK. In the presence of LI. GERTRUDE ADY, JULIA S. ABBOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, I). G. 

